Progressive Democrats Take to the Streets

[Guest Laura Bonham]

Following the successful launch of its Healthcare NOT Warfare campaign with events across the nation, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) activists are participating with a broad range of groups at events commemorating the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

 

PDA members from coast to coast are marking the sixth year of the U.S. occupation of Iraq by handing out Healthcare NOT Warfare flyers and urging recipients to sign the petition calling on Congressional Leaders and Democratic Party officials to end the Iraq War and shift the funding to support universal health care for all Americans.

 

"This is obviously a sad anniversary for the U.S. and for the people of Iraq," said PDA Executive Director Tim Carpenter, "but as we mourn, we also are organizing--working to overturn the disastrous, fatal policies of the past five years by electing a permanent progressive majority to Congress."

 

PDA launched the Healthcare NOT Warfare campaign on March 5, to link unnecessary military spending to the failure of government to meet human needs. The spiraling costs of healthcare exacerbate inflation and cause many of the bankruptcies which devastate working and middle class families.

 

After successful events in Santa Rosa and Sacramento, California, and a New York City event to promote PDA-endorsed candidates, PDA staged a fourth event in Washington D.C., with author-activist Jim Hightower on Monday, March 17. Today, a bold, creative day of nonviolent direct action will take place in Washington, D.C.

 

There are huge pillars of support for this war and occupation--tax dollars, the military, the mainstream media, corporate war profiteers, and the security state. Actions today in D.C. will target these pillars, demonstrating the real costs of war and offering visions for a more just and sustainable world, a world at peace.

 

There are hundreds of anti-war activities taking place around the country marking the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq (and dozens more around the world). PDA activists will be at these events handing out Healthcare NOT Warfare flyers urging recipients to sign the petition.

 

Progressive Democrats of America is a grassroots PAC that works both inside the Democratic Party and outside in movements for peace and justice. Our goal: Extend the victory of Nov. 2006 into a permanent, progressive majority. PDA's advisory board includes seven members of Congress and activist leaders such as Tom Hayden, Medea Benjamin, Thom Hartman, Jim Hightower, and Rev. Lennox Yearwood.

 

More info: http://pdamerica.org